Unfolding Destiny

Shoghi Effendi

Was born into a family of distinguished Jewish medical doctors
in 1888. His grandfather was the first Jew to embrace the Cause
and Bahá’u’lláh revealed a Tablet in his honour. Lutfu’lláh came
to study physiotherapy in England in 1910 and he was in
constant attendance on the Master during His visit in 1911. He
went to serve in the Holy Land and returned to England in 1920
when he accompanied Shoghi Effendi. He later served with
distinction in Persia and returned, at the request of the Guardian,
to Britain in October 1948, where he taught and travelled
extensively until called to Haifa by the Guardian on 14
November 1950. He was appointed to the first International
Bahá’í Council. He was elected to the first Universal House of
Justice in 1963 but because of failing health and advanced age
regretfully his resignation was accepted in October 1967 though
he consented to serve until the 1968 election. He passed away in
August 1968 and the House cabled the Bahá’í world: “GRIEVE
ANNOUNCE PASSING LUTFU’LLÁH HAKÍM DEDICATED SERVANT
CAUSE GOD. SPECIAL MISSIONS ENTRUSTED HIM, FULL CONFIDENCE
REPOSED IN HIM BY MASTER AND GUARDIAN, HIS CLOSE ASSOCIATION
WITH EARLY DISTINGUISHED BELIEVERS EAST WEST INCLUDING HIS
COLLABORATION ESSLEMONT, HIS SERVICES PERSIA BRITISH ISLES
HOLY LAND, HIS MEMBERSHIP APPOINTED AND ELECTED INTERNATIONAL
BAHÁ’Í COUNCIL, HIS ELECTION UNIVERSAL HOUSE JUSTICE
WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED IMMORTAL ANNALS FAITH
BAHÁ’U’LLÁH.” (“Bahá’í World”, Vol. XV, pp. 430–4.)